Porous mass for storing explosive gases and process of making same



' certain explosive purpose, or might be Patented Apr. 5 1927.

1,623,169 PATENT, OFFICE.

GUSTAF DALEN, OF LIDINGON, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN GASAGCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF JERSEY.

ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW" POROUS MASS FOR STORINGEXPLOSIVE GASES AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

No Drawing. Application filed August 14, 1922, Serial No. 581,898, andin Sweden August 16, 1921.

As a precautionary measure and for the purpose of avoiding dangerous anddestructive explosions, it is now the practice to store gases, such asacetylene, in porous masses contained and confined within tanks orcylinders, frequently referred to as receivers. Heretofore in themanufacture of porous mass bodies of the character indicated relativelysmall proportions of kieselguhr have been employed in connection withceramic substances mixed with charcoal, asbestos, and the like, theselatter substances constituting the main mass or portion of the porousmass bodies. has been to bond these substances together by a suitableadhesive.

The present invention has for its object to provide a porous mass bodyfor the purpose indicated in which all or the main portion thereof shallconsist of kieselguhr in a packed or compressed condition within aclosed receiver. The kieselguhr as employed in the. manufacture ofporous masses embodying my invention is in granular or powdered form;that is, the kieselguhr consists of a mass of small or fine particlesand it should be packed or compressed to such an extent within thereceiver that it completely and permanently fills the same. The presenceof cracks, crevices, or unfilled spaces within a receiver containing anex plosive gas, such as acetylene, is objectionable and dangerous. It isnecessary, therefore, that the kieselguhr shall be forcibly impacted orcompressed within the receiver so as to closely associate and compactthe fine particles thereof in order that the interstices between thesaid particles shall be extremely small as compared with the particlesthemselves, and also so that the kieselguhr will not settle within 'thereceiver or crack. Tendency to settle or to crack might be due toagitation resulting from handling in shipping, in handling the same forany other due to other causes.

As already indicated, kieselguhr may be used either alone or with smallproportions of othermaterial. It may be bonded or not as may be desired,and it may be formed into a single body or mass within the receiver, ora plurality of smaller bodies or masses in the form of blocks may beformed and placed in such receiver.

The general practice ,ward

It has been found that compressing of the kieselguhr to the requiredextent within the receiver, tion of a mass permanently filling the sameWithout the necessity of repeated filling is effected, may befacilitated by mixing with.

percentage, say ten weight, of a suitable as asbestos or celluguhr maybe moistened with water, but in such case it must be dried in thereceiver after the packing or compression has been completed. Thereafterthe solvent, such as acetone, may be introduced into the receiver.

Kieselguhr possesses properties which render it suitable as theprincipal ingredient of a porous mass for storing explosive gases, suchas acetylene. For instance, it has been found that when kieselguhr is incompacted or compressed condition, with the fine par ticles thereof inclosely associated relation, it constitutes a very reliable means forpreventing the propagation of a general explosion from a local explosionwithin a free space which might be present within the mass. In otherwords, it affords a reliable means against the transmission of explosionwaves which 'may arise within the receiver. Kieselguhr also possesses insatisfactory degree the desirable property of absorbing and distributingthe solvent, such as acetone, employed for absorbing and storing thegas, such as acetylene gas; and it has been found that it performs thefunctions which render it desirable and suitable as a porous mass :forthe purpose in question more efliciently and more satisfactorily thanthe substances heretofore employed for the main body or structure ofporous mass bodies.

, One method employed by me in the manufacture of a porous massembodying my invention consists in the mixing of kieselguhr in powderedform with a small percentage of a fibrous material, such as cellulose orasbestos, and thereafter moistening the same with acetone andintroducing the mixture the packing or so that the forma-' s as may bepreferred; also the kiesel-.

thus produced into a tank or receiver of any known kind employed forstoring acetylene or other gas, after which the mixture is shaken,compressed and compacted in any known manner within the said tank orreceiver so that the particles of the kieselguhr become veryelosely'associated and so that the mass will not settle or crack orotherwise alter its condition in such manner that spaces are formedtherein due to handling or to any other cause.

It will be seen that I have provided a porous mass having all of thecharacteristic qualities necessary for the satisfactory storing ofexplosive gases, such as acetylene.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A porous mass for storing explosive gases within a container,consisting of powdered kieselguhr mixed with a small proportion offibrous material, the mixture being in compact form within saidcontainer, and completely filling the same.

' 2. A porous mass for storing explosive gases, consisting of a mixtureof a relatively large proportion of powdered kieselguhr and a relativelysmall proportion of a fibrous material.

3. A porous mass for storing explosive gases, consisting of a mixture ofa relatively large proportion of powdered kieselguhr ifliId a relativelysmall proportion of asbestos 4. A porous mass for storing explosivegases, consisting of a mixture of powdered kieselguhr and asbestos fiberthe latter of which constitutes from ten to twenty per cent of themixture.

5. The method of making a porous mass for storing explosive gases, whichcomprises the mixing together of kieselgulir and a small proportion of afibrous material, and thereafter packing the mixture within a receiver,so as to com letely and permanently fill the receiver Wit the said mass.

6. The method of making a porous mass for storing explosive gases, whichcomprises the mixing together of kieselguhr and a small proportion of afibrous material, moistening the mixture, "and packing the same while ina moistened condition in a receiver so as to completely and permanentlyfill the receiver with the said mass.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GUSTAF DALEN.

